Orbital sander with vertical handle

ABSTRACT

An orbital sander having a housing defining an axis. A motor and output with a sanding element are aligned on said axis. The housing includes a power source as well as an activating member to energize and de-energize the sander. A handle is spaced from the housing and is substantially parallel to the axis. Further, additional gripping members may be positioned on the housing to provide multiple gripping surfaces.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.10/819,248, filed Apr. 6, 2004. This application is incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sanders and, more particularly, torandom orbital sanders having multiple gripping members, including aspaced vertical handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Orbital sanders generally include a vertically orientated housing havinga handle at an axial end of the housing. Thus, the handle is positionedabove the orbital sanding element so that a workman applies forcedirectly onto the orbital sanding element. These handles have varioustypes of designs in order to accommodate the workman's hand. Also,orbital sanders exist which include handles which extend from thehousing substantially perpendicular to the orbital sander housing. Thesetypes of handles are in a horizontal orientation. Thus, during use, fora significant period of time, vibration can cause the user's hand tobecome fatigue. Accordingly, it is desirable to have an orbital sanderwhich enables the user various gripping orientations to overcome theshortcoming of the prior art.

The present invention provides the art with a orbital sander thatprovides multiple gripping positions. The orbital sander provides theuser with a gripping surface spaced from the housing and substantiallyparallel to the housing. Also, the present invention provides the userwith a gripping portion which surrounds the housing to provide a 360degree handle for various orientations of the orbital sander. Also, thepresent invention provides the user with a palm grip having a gelportion to reduce vibration in the tool. The present invention alsoenables the user to utilize both hands at various positions on thesander during operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, an orbital sandercomprises a housing with an overall axial orientation. A motor ispositioned within the housing. An output is coupled with the motor todrive the orbital sanding element. A power source is coupled with themotor. An activation member is coupled with the motor and the powersource. The activation member energizes and de-energizes the motorwhich, in turn, randomly rotates the output and sanding element. Ahandle having an overall vertical orientation is spaced from thehousing. The housing ordinarily has a cylindrical portion and atruncated conical portion adjacent the cylindrical portion. A grippingmember is positioned at the intersection of the cylindrical portion anda truncated conical portion. The gripping member surrounds a portion ofthe housing. The gripping member that surrounds the housing is formedfrom an elastomeric material providing comfort and feel for the user.Also, a gripping member maybe positioned on an end of the housingopposing the output. This gripping member may include a gel portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention, an orbital sandercomprises a housing that has an overall axial orientation with two ends.A motor is positioned within the housing. An output, coupled with themotor, is positioned at one of the ends of the housing to drive asanding element. A power source is coupled with the motor. An activationmember is coupled with the motor and the power source to energize andde-energize the motor which, in turn, drives the output and the sandingelement. A gripping member surrounds the housing. The gripping member ispositioned between the ends of the housing. The gripping member iselastomeric to provide comfort and feel. The gripping member iscontinuous 360 degrees around the housing. The gripping member has anannular portion and an extending tail portion. The gripping member ispositioned on a truncated conical portion of the housing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an orbital sandercomprises a housing having an axial orientation with a pair of ends. Amotor is positioned within the housing. An output, coupled with themotor, is positioned at one of the end to drive a sanding element. Apower source is coupled with the motor. An activation member is coupledwith the motor and the power source to energize and de-energize themotor which, in turn, drives the output and the sanding element. Aplurality of gripping members are coupled with the housing. At least onegripping member is spaced from and positioned substantially parallel tothe housing. The one gripping member is a handle. The others of thegripping members are on the housing. One of the gripping memberssurrounds a portion of the housing. One of the gripping members ispositioned on the end of the housing opposing the output.

From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and subjoined claims, other objects and advantagesof the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in theart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an orbital sander in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 a-2 e are side perspective views of FIG. 1 with hands shown inphantom for gripping the sander;

FIG. 3 a is a side view of the present orbital sander showing itsdimensions in millimeters;

FIG. 3 b is a bottom view of the present orbital sander showing itsdimensions in millimeters;

FIG. 4 a is a side view of a second embodiment of the orbital sanderhaving a rectangular sanding element, with dimensions shown inmillimeters; and

FIG. 4 b is a bottom view of the second embodiment of the orbitalsander, with dimensions shown in millimeters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

Turning to the figures, an orbital sander is illustrated and designatedwith the reference numeral 10. The orbital sander includes a housing 12,a motor 14 positioned within the housing, an output 16 driven by themotor 14, and a platen or carrier 18 that is coupled to the output andoscillatingly driven. A sanding element (not shown) is attached to thecarrier 18. It should be understood that a polishing or other similarelement, other than a sanding element, may be attached to carrier 18 andstill be within the scope of the invention.

A dust collection system 20 is coupled with the housing 12. Also, aplurality of gripping members 22, 24, and 26 are coupled with thehousing. An AC power cord 28 is coupled with the housing to providepower to the motor 14. An activation member 30 is coupled with thehousing to energize and de-energize the motor 14, in turn, the output 16which, in turn, rotates the carrier 18.

The housing 12 defines a central axis 13 and is normally used in avertical orientation. The housing 12 includes a cylindrical portion 32and a truncated conical portion 34 positioned on axis 13. The truncatedconical portion 34 at its end includes a skirt 36. The skirt 36 providesdurability and protects the work surface while sanding.

A housing gripping member 22 is positioned at the intersection of thecylindrical portion 32 and the truncated conical portion 34. The housinggripping member 22 includes an annular portion comprising a grippingsurface 40 and a tail surface 42. The gripping surface 40 surrounds thehousing providing a 360 degree grip on the housing. The gripping surface40 is positioned at the other end of the truncated conical portion 34wherein it intersects the cylindrical portion 32. The tail surface 42extends from the gripping surface 40 towards the skirt 36. The housinggripping member 22 is an elastomeric member and may be over molded ontothe housing 12. The elastomeric member provides a comfortable grip aswell as increased feel to the user.

The other end of the housing 12 includes an upper gripping member 24.The extending end of the cylindrical portion 32 has a teardrop shapedhead 44 with the upper gripping member 24 positioned on top of the head44. The upper gripping member 24 has a teardrop shape and is formed froma gel material that forms an upper gripping surface. Thus, the gelprovides a top surface to absorb vibration of the sander to increase theduration of use by the user without fatigue.

Vertical axis 13 is located substantially centrally relative to thesander housing 12 throughout its entire extent. That is, axis 13 iscentrally located with respect to all of upper gripping member 24,cylindrical portion 32 and conical portion 34. Further, as evident withreference to FIGS. 3 a and 3 c, upper gripping member 24 defines anouter perimeter such that a downward projection of the outer perimeterdefines a volume in which the housing 12 is substantially disposedwithin throughout its entire extent. In other words, the middle andlower parts of housing 12 do not extend outwardly of upper grippingmember 24 for any substantial extent.

A handle gripping member 26 is spaced from the housing 12. The handlegripping member 26 runs substantially parallel to the housing 12, andhas a vertical orientation enabling the user to grip handle grippingmember 26 to provide a different orientation for the user's hands. Thegripping orientations are illustrated in FIGS. 2 a-2 e. Also, the usermay use two hands when gripping the handle gripping member 26 withanother one of the gripping members 22 or 24.

The handle gripping member 26 is ordinarily formed with the housing 12to provide a clamshell type of housing member. The handle grippingmember 26 includes gripping surface 46 and 48 on each of its sides. Thegripping surfaces 46 and 48 are similar to gripping surface 40, and madeof an elastomeric material to provide comfort and feel to the user.

An open space is formed between gripping surfaces 46, 48 and housing 12to allow for gripping of the gripping surfaces, with the user's handoriented in a substantially vertical orientation, as explained below.

During operation, a user may grip the orbital sander at gripping member22, 24 or 26. This allows the user to vary his hand positions to reducefatigue during prolonged operation. Also, the user may use a pluralityof the gripping members at one time. The user may use grips 22 and 26,24 and 26, or 22 and 24 at one time to add increased control to thesander during operation.

Although as discussed above, the sander may be gripped with two handsutilizing various combinations of grips 22, 24 and 26, the preferredoverall configurations and weight allow for the sander to be operated bythe user with one hand by solely gripping upper grip 24. As shown inFIG. 2 a, in this sole gripping position, the user's hand may extendsubstantially over the entire extent of the sander housing 12. In such aconfiguration, the user's palm rests substantially in a horizontalplane. One advantage provided by this invention is that in addition toallowing for such overhanded gripping at the top of the sander, the useralso can grip the sander with his second hand gripping spaced handle 26.In particular, as shown in FIG. 2 b, the user grips gripping surfaces 46and 48 of handle 26 such that the palm of the second hand is disposedsubstantially vertically and therefore perpendicular to the palm of thefirst hand, to provide increased control during operation.

With reference to FIG. 3 a, preferred dimensions in millimeters for thesander are shown. In a preferred embodiment, the weight of the orbitalsander may be approximately 3.5 pounds. As shown, the handle 26 need notbe disposed precisely perpendicular to the gripping surface of uppergrip 24, that is, it need not be disposed precisely vertical. Forexample, in one preferred embodiment handle 26 and thus grippingsurfaces 46 and 48 may be disposed substantially vertically at 103.46°to the horizontal gripping surface of upper grip 24, and thus at anangle of 13.46° to the vertical axis of housing 12. Prefereably, thisangle may be varied within a range of 5°.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show a second embodiment of the invention, where thecarrier 18, and consequently the sanding element (not shown), isrectangular shaped. The orbital sander shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b is a ¼sheet sander, with the approximate dimension of the sander shown inmillimeters.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A sander having multiple gripping members, comprising: a housinghaving a top portion, a middle portion and a bottom portion, and themiddle portion and the bottom portion having substantially the samecentral vertical axis; a sanding element located at a bottom portion ofthe housing; a first gripping member comprising a handle spaced apartfrom the housing and being substantially parallel to the housing; asecond gripping member located generally at the bottom portion of thehousing, the second gripping member extending around the housing andhaving a smoothly outwardly curved shape.
 2. The sander of claim 1,wherein: the middle portion of the housing is generally a cylindricalportion and the bottom portion of the housing is a truncated conicalportion.
 3. The sander of claim 1, wherein: the spacing of the handlefrom the housing allows a user's hand to easily fit through the spacebetween the handle and the housing to grip the middle portion or thebottom portion of the housing, and the housing is shaped to allow foreasy gripping with a single hand.
 4. The sander of claim 1, furthercomprising: a third gripping member located at the top portion of thehousing and having a gel-like material thereon for creating acomfortable gripping surface for the user.
 5. The sander of claim 4,wherein: the third gripping surface is generally tear-drop shaped. 6.The sander of claim 1, further comprising: a dust collection systemlocated at the bottom of the handle and a power cord located at the topof the handle.
 7. A sander having multiple gripping members, comprising:a housing having a cylindrical portion and a truncated conical portion,the cylindrical portion and the truncated conical portion concentricallyspaced around a vertical axis of the housing with the truncated conicalportion extending downwardly from the cylindrical portion; the truncatedconical portion including a skirt and a carrier element; a firstgripping member including a handle spaced from the housing and orientedsubstantially parallel to the vertical axis of the housing, the firstgripping member having first gripping surfaces thereon; and a secondgripping member located substantially on the truncated conical portionand having a curved second gripping surface.
 8. The sander of claim 7wherein: the spacing of the handle from the housing allows a user's handto easily fit through the space between the handle and the housing togrip the cylindrical portion or the truncated conical portion of thehousing, and the housing is shaped to allow for easy gripping with asingle hand.
 9. The sander of claim 7, further comprising: a thirdgripping member extending above the cylindrical portion and having agel-like material thereon creating a third gripping surface.
 10. Thesander of claim 9, wherein: the third gripping surface is generallytear-drop shaped.
 11. The sander of claim 7, further comprising: a dustcollection system located at the bottom of the handle and a power cordlocated at the top of the handle.
 12. A sander having multiple grippingmembers, comprising: a housing having a top portion, a middle portionand a bottom portion, and a vertical axis with at least the middleportion and the bottom portion having the same vertical axis; a handlegripping member spaced apart from the housing and being substantiallyparallel to the axis; a housing gripping member located substantially onthe bottom portion of the housing; and a top gripping member locatedsubstantially at the top portion of the housing and having a cushioningmaterial thereon for creating a comfortable gripping surface.
 13. Thesander of claim 12, wherein: the handle gripping member is spaced fromthe housing to allow a user's hand to easily fit through the spacebetween the handle gripping member and the housing to grip the housinggripping member, and the housing gripping member is sized to allow foreasy gripping with a single hand.
 14. A power driven oscillating toolcomprising: a housing, said housing having a longitudinal axis which issituated substantially centrally of said housing for substantially theentire vertical extent of said housing, said housing having an uppergripping surface; a motor disposed in said housing; a carried disposedbelow said housing and driven to oscillate by said motor; a sidegripping surface displaced from said housing so as to form an open spacebetween said side gripping surface and said housing.
 15. The tool ofclaim 14, wherein the side gripping surface has a longitudinal axiswhich extends substantially vertically.
 16. The tool of claim 14,wherein the side gripping surface has a longitudinal axis which makes anangle with the longitudinal axis of the housing within a range of 8.46°to 18.46°.
 17. The tool of claim 16, wherein said angle is substantiallyequal to 13.46 degrees.
 18. The tool of claim 14, wherein said carriercomprises a sanding platen and is driven in an orbiting motion by saidmotor.
 19. The tool of claim 14, wherein said housing includes acylindrical portion extending downwardly from said upper grippingsurface and a truncated conical portion extending downwardly from saidcylindrical portion, said truncated conical portion providing a lowergripping surface of said housing.
 20. A power driven oscillating toolcomprising: a housing having an upper gripping member and a main bodyportion extending downwardly from said upper gripping member, said uppergripping member defining an outer perimeter, a downward projection ofsaid outer perimeter defining a volume such that said housing isdisposed throughout substantially the entire extent of said housingsubstantially entirely within the defined volume. a motor disposed insaid housing; a carrier disposed below said housing and driven tooscillate by said motor; and a side gripping surface displaced from saidhousing so as to form an open space between said side gripping surfaceand said housing.
 21. The tool of claim 20, wherein said side grippingsurface has a longitudinal axis which extends substantially vertically.22. The tool recited in claim 20, wherein said housing has alongitudinal axis, said side gripping surface has a longitudinal axiswhich makes an angle with said longitudinal axis of said housing in arange of 8.46° to 18.45°.
 23. The tool recited in claim 22, wherein saidangle is substantially equal to 13.46°.
 24. The tool recited in claim20, wherein said housing includes a cylindrical portion extendingdownwardly from said upper gripping member and a truncated conicalportion extending downwardly from said cylindrical portion, saidtruncated conical portion having an outer perimeter which issubstantially coincident with the outer perimeter of said upper grippingmember.
 25. The tool recited in claim 20, wherein said carrier comprisesa sanding platen and is driven in an orbiting motion by said motor. 26.A power sander comprising: a housing having an upper gripping member,said sander configured so as to allow for one-handed operation in normaluse by gripping the upper gripping member; a motor disposed in saidhousing; a platen disposed below said housing and driven to oscillate bysaid motor; and a side gripping surface displaced from said housing soas to form an open space between said side gripping surface and saidhousing.
 27. The sander recited in claim 26, wherein said platen issubstantially circular and said outer perimeter of the housing belowsaid upper gripping member has substantially circular outer perimeter,wherein said housing has a maximum diameter which is no greater than 122mm and said sander has a maximum weight of 3.5 pounds.
 28. The sanderrecited in claim 26, wherein said platen is substantially rectangularand the outer perimeter of the housing below said upper gripping memberhas a substantially rectangular outer perimeter, wherein said housinghas a maximum cross-sectional area which is no greater than 12,140 mm²and said sander has a maximum weight of 3.5 pounds.